Locker cabinets



June 27, 1967 w, STACKHOUSE 3,328,102

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LOCKER CABINETS Filed March 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F l 8 INVENTOR.

WELLS F. STACKHOUSE BY Wow *Ww/ ATTORNEYS June 27, 1967 w. F.

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United States Patent 3,328,102 LOCKER CABINETS Wells F. Stack-house,Andover, Mass., assignor to American Locker Company, Inc., Boston,Mass., 21 corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,360 3Claims. (Cl. 312-108) This invention relates generally to lockercabinets and more particularly is directed towards a new and improvedmulti-form cabinet structure which may be assembled at the site ofinstallation and which is fabricated from stock components of selectedsizes adapted to interlock with one another and with other cabinets.

Conventional locker cabinets are normally fabricated at the factory witha majority of the component parts formed from metal and joined bywelding. In practice, a manufacturer will build a line of lockercabinets of several different sizes and with various compartmentarrangements. A supply of these cabinets will be kept in stock forimmediate delivery on order, in which case the fully assembled cabinetsare shipped to the buyer. From time to time a customer may requirelockers which are not of a standard size and the manufacturer mustcustommake the cabinets according to the customers specifications. Thisinvolves added engineering services, new drawings, setting up specialdies, etc., all of which increase the cost of the cabinet, and, whereas,a stock size cabinet may be delivered immediately, the productionrequirements of special order cabinets necessarily produce a delay inshipment. Furthermore, the fully assembled cabinet, whether of stocksize or custom-made, by reason of its bulk is rather diificult andexpensive to ship to the customer and may suffer damage in transit.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provideimprovements in the construction of locker cabinets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinetfabricated of stock components that may be quickly and easily assembledat the site of installation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinetadapted for interlocking cooperative engagement with other cabinets ofsimilar structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locker cabinetfabricated from component parts which permit on site assembly in a widerange of cabinet sizes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedspring closure for a cabinet door.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improvedhinge for a cabinet door.

More particularly, this invention features a multiform locker cabinetassembled from interchangeable prefabricated components adapted tointerlock rigidly with one another in a number of selected arrangementsto provide a locker cabinet that may be quickly set up on site. Asanother feature of this invention, each cabinet unit is provided withvertical channel members which interlock and cooperate with the channelmembers of adjacent cabinet units of similar structure in providingrigidity to both units and also to define a coin chute and chamber formounting of coin-controlled locks. Locks of this type control thecabinet doors whereby individual locker compartments may be rented uponthe deposit of a coin of proper denomination.

This invention also features a novel automatic door closure devicecomprising a coil spring which is bent back upon itself rather thantensioned when the door is in an open position.

As still another feature of this invention, there is provided a new andimproved hinge of unusual strength and 3,328,1M Patented June 27, 1967compactness and which is particularly suitable for concealment withinthe cabinet structure.

But these and other features of the invention, along with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, will become more fully apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locker cabinet frame madeaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the locker cabinet shown in FIG.1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view in side elevation showing the upperportion of the cabinet frame,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view illustrating the operation of the doorclosure mechanism,

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a door hinge made according to theinvention,

FIG. 8 is a view in front elevation showing a battery of assembled,interconnecting cabinet units,

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing assembly details, and

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of an assembled unit.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generallyindicates a cabinet locker unit having a plurality of individualcompartments 12, each with its own door 14 and coin-controlled lockmechanism 16. Each locker unit comprises a front frame section 18 whichincludes upright frame members 20 and 22, connected across the bottom bymeans of a base member 24, across their mid-portions by spacedhorizontal brackets 26 and across the top by means of a cover plate 28.Shelves 30, side panels 32, a rear panel 33, and a top panel 35 completethe locker unit.

The component parts of the illustrated locker unit are constructed insuch a fashion that they may be assembled quickly and easily at the siteof the locker installation with the use of a few simple tools and yetproduce a locker of a strength and rigidity comparable to that of awelded locker. The various components, while each of a particularconfiguration, may be made in different lengths and widths whereby froma stock of components a great variety of locker sizes and designs may beassembled at the place of installation.

Referring now more particularly to the individual locker components, itwill be seen that the upright frame member 20, typically fabricated fromsheet metal, is a single stamping in the form of a channel. Each uprightmember 20 is formed with a flat side portion 34, a front portion 36 atright angles to the side portion 34, a side flange 38 parallel to theside portion 34 and a marginal lip 40 parallel to the front portion 36.It will be noted that the lower edge of the side portion 34 extendsbelow the remaining portion of the frame member and also is formed withsets of slotted openings 42 and 43. Also formed in spaced verticalalignment in the side portion 34 are T- shaped openings 44 adapted toreceive the ends of the cross brackets 26. Rectangular openings 46 areformed in spaced relation in the front portion 36 and each is adapted toaccommodate a coin-controlled lock 16.

As best shown in FIG. 9 the upright member 20 is also formed with aseries of spaced notches 48 extending horizontally across the lip 40 andinto the side flange 38. The function of the notches is to accommodatethe forward edge of the cross bracket 26 when two adjacent locker unitsare interlocked as will presently appear. Mounted to the inner side ofthe front portion 36 and behind each opening 46 is a baffie 50 having arearwardly inclined upper portion 52 with a vertical depending lowerportion 54. The baffles serve to deflect coins released by one lock 16away from another lock located below and to direct all coins into acommon vertical coin chute to be described more fully below. As a finalstructural feature of each upright member 20 a number of rectangularslots 56 are formed adjacent the forward edge of the side portion 34 toaccommodate hinges for the cabinet doors 14.

Each of the cross brackets 26 is a single sheet metal stamping havingupper and lower horizontal flange portions 58 and 68 connected byvertical shoulder portions 62 and 64 extending right anigularly from anarrow shelf portion 66 formed by folding the sheet metal back uponitself. Extending from each end of each shoulder portion 62 and 64 andfrom each end of the shelf portion 66 are locking tabs 68 and 70arranged in a T formation. It will be understood that the tabs on theleft hand end of the bracket 26 are adapted to be inserted in the Tshaped opening 44 of the upright member 28 while the tabs on the righthand end are adapted to be inserted in an aligned T-shaped opening 72formed in the upright frame member 22. Formed near the left hand end ofthe lower shoulder portion 64 of the bracket 26 is a rectangular opening74 adapted to accommodate a door closure arm 76 to be described morefully below.

The upright frame member 22 is a single sheet metal stamping having aflat side portion 78 in which are formed the T-shaped openings 72, arear wal portion 80 extending at a right angle from the side portion 78and a flange 82 extending rearwardly at a right angle from the wall 80.As best shown in FIG. the lower end of the side portion 78 terminatesabove the lower ends of the wall 80 and flange 82 with a pair of slots84 formed near the lower margin of the side portion 78. Finally, anumber of spaced holes 85 are formed along the flange 82 to accommodatenut and bolt connectors used in assembling the unit.

The cover plate 28, which is mounted on top of the uprgiht frame membersand 22, is a single sheet metal stamping having a flat upper panel 86, arelatively narrow front section 88 at a right angle to the upper panel86, a rearwardly extending mid section 91) in parallel spaced relationto the upper panel 86, a vertical shoulder section 92 at a right angleto the mid-section 90 and a rearwardly extending flange portion 94 at aright angle to the shoulder section 92. Tabs 96 and 98 are formed ateither end of the flange 94 and the mid-section 90 and are adatped to beinserted in slots 100 and 102 formed near the upper portions of theupright frame members 20 and 22, the slots in one upright frame memberbeing in register with the slots of the other upright frame member.

The base member 24, typically formed from sheet metal, has a flat bottomwall 104 and an upright front panel section 106 perpendicular to thebottom wall and having a rectangular opening 110 formed in the righthand side thereof. An intermediate shelf portion 112 extends rearwardlyfrom the front panel with an upright shoulder section 114 extending fromits rearward edge. A horizontal flange 116 extends rearwardly from theupper edge of the shoulder section and is formed at either end withlocking tabs 118. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the right hand ends ofthe flange 116 and shoulder section 114 are recessed from the ends ofthe shelf 112, the front wall 106 and the bottom wall 184 to define arectangular opening 120 (see FIG. 10) when the locker unit is assembled.

As may be seen in FIG. 10 the right hand locking tabs 118 are adapted tobe inserted in the slots 84 which are formed at the lower edge of theside portions 78 of the upright frame member 22. The left hand lockingtabs, as indicated in FIG. 1, are adapted to be inserted in the openings43 formed in the lower end of the upright frame member 20. As shown inFIG. 2 the bottom wall 104 and its left hand edge is formed with a shortupright lip 122 from which extends a pair of locking tabs 124 adapted tobe inserted in the slots 42 of the upright frame member 20.

The rectangular opening 118, which is formed in the front panel 106, isadapted to accommodate a cash box 126. A plate 128 is detachablyconnected within the opening by means of a key operated lock 134) topermit the cash box to be removed by an operator only. It will be notedin FIG. 10 that the open top cash box has a portion in communicationwith the opening so that coins dropped from coin-operated locks locatedabove the cash box will fall into the box. As shown in FIG. 6, avertical coin chute 132 is formed in the rear portion of the boxedenclosure defined by interlocking an upright frame member 20 and uprightframe member 22. This coin chute is located to the rearward portion ofthe rectangular chamber with the front portion thereof being occupied bycoin-controlled locks 16 each protected by a baflle 58.

The shelves 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, are flat panels havingmarginal depending flanges 134 along both sides and the rear thereof.Each of the flanges is formed with a series of spaced holes 136 adaptedto register with holes 138 formed in the side panels 32 and the rearpanel 33 to receive nuts and bolts for assembling the locker unit. Therear corners of each shelf are out out at 148 to accommodate verticalframe members (not shown). The two forward corners of the shelf are alsocut out to fit around the upright frame members 2t) and 22. In FIG. 4 itwill be seen that the forward edge of each shelf is offset slightly at142 to fit under the flange portion 58 of the cross bracket 26 and toform therewith a flush surface. A flange 144 extends downwardly from theoffset portion 142 to fit within the rear channel portion of the bracket26 with the lower edge of the flange 144 resting along the flange 60.The top, rear and side panels typically are of sheet metal formed withappropriate holes for connecting bolts and dimensioned to close the top,side and rear portions of the cabinet.

It will be appreciated that cabinet unit of this construction may bereadily set up by merely inserting the locking tabs of the variouscomponents into their appropriate slot openings and bending back thetabs so as to lock the parts in position. This may be done with a handtool such as a hammer or plier or the like. Conventional nuts and boltsmay be employed to attach the sheet panel members to complete thestructure. In practice, when a bank of locker units is to be installed,each unit is cooperatively interlocked with an adjacent locker unit toprovide an integrated, rigid structure. FIG. 8 shows a bank ofinterlocking units 10 and it will be noted that an upright frame member20 interlocks with an upright frame member 22 whereby a coin controlledlock 16 mounted in one upright frame member 20 serves to control thecabinet door 14 for an adjacent locker unit. As best shown in FIGS. 6and 9 the interlocking connection for two locker units is made by firstassembling the two units separately and then snapping the upright framemember 20 of one unit over the upright frame member 22 of an adjacentunit with the side flange 38 overlapping the side portion 78. The lip 40of the member 20 will butt against the shoulder 62 of the bracket 26 toposition the members in precise relation. It will be understood that theportion 66 of the bracket 26 at its right hand end will be receivedwithin the notches 48 formed in the member 20'. This arrangementproduces a very rugged assembly and permits any number of locker unitsto be assembled in side by side interlocking relation. At each end ofthe bank of locker units, blank frame members may be provided in placeof the usual frame members in order to present a smooth, finishedappearance.

Each of the cabinet doors 14 is a rectangular panel formed with marginalboxed flanges 146 and is mounted on its left hand side by means of apair of hinges 148 attached to an upright frame member 28. Each hinge148 comprises a double leaf fixed part 150 which is formed from acontinuous single piece of heavy gauge sheet steel folded about a pin152 and returning to form a double thickness hinge unit. The hinge part150 has a rectangular section 154 which is attached to the side wall 34with integral sectors 155 defining spaced rectangular openings 156. Theother hinge part 158 is likewise of full loop, double leaf constructionwhich encloses the pin 152 and is also formed with rectangular openings160 to accommodate the sectors 155 of the hinge section 150. The hingepart 158 has a U-shaped configuration in cross-section with the free legthereof bent inwardly in excess of 90 degrees in order to match theangle of the boxed door flange 146 to which it is attached. It will benoted that the rectangular openings 160 extend approximately half wayacross the hinge part 158 whereby, when the cabinet door 14 is moved tothe closed position shown in FIG. 6, the inner portion of the hinge part158 may swing from one side of the hinge part 150 to the other sidethereof. As shown, the boxed flange 146 is formed with an opening 162 inregister with the opening 56 through which the hinge part 158 swings.The construction of the hinge is extremely rugged and compact andpermits the movable portion thereof to swing back and forth through thefixed portion whereby the hinge is completely hidden when the door is inthe close-d position.

Referring again to FIG. 6 there is shown a novel door closing mechanismwhich includes the arm 76 having its outer end attached to the topportion of the boxed flange 146 for the door and extending through theopening 74. The inner end of the arm 76 carries a plate 164 to which isattached one end of a coil spring 166. The inner end of the spring 166is connected to a block 168 attached to the bracket 26. When the door isin the closed position of FIG. 6, the spring 166 assumes an almoststraight but slightly curved condition whereas when the door is movedinto the open position, the spring is bent back upon itself as indicatedby the dotted outline in FIG. 6. This arrangement provides for improveddoor operation insofar as the spring exerts a greater pressure when thedoor is fully open and the spring is bent back upon itself than when thedoor is almost closed and the spring almost straight. This permitsclosing the door lightly with less force than with the customary springwhich exerts a steady pull throughout its arc. Thus, the door, whenunlocked, is kept closed under a moderate pressure and yet may be openedeasily and will close quickly. In operation, the door closing pressuretends to decrease slightly as the door approaches a fully closedposition. This substantially eliminates the banging noises whichnormally accompany spring loaded doors and also protects fingers whichmay be caught inadvertently between the door and the cabinet frame. Aseries of rubber bumpers 170 is attached to the side portion 78 of theframe member 22 by means of brackets 172 welded thereto. The forward endof each bumper extends through an opening 174 formed through the lip 40of the frame member 20. These bumpers serve to cushion the door andeliminate any objectionable banging noise when the door is closed by apatron.

In practice, the upright frame members may be provided in variouslengths to permit the assembling of the locker cabinets of differentheights. Also, the cross members, such as the top plate, cross bracketsand base member, as well as the doors, may be provided in variousdimensions so that locker cabinets of selected widths may be assembled.Thus, from a supply of a relatively few stock components, lockercabinets in a rather wide range of sizes may be assembled.

Cabinets made from these components may be readily assembled at the siteof installation thereby reducing shipping costs and delays as well assubstantially eliminating the risk of damage in transit. Special orderlocker cabinets may be quickly and easily assembled to the customersspecifications thereby avoiding the delay and extra expense normallyinvolved with custom-made units. No

special training is required to assemble one or a number of locker unitssince a few simple instructions will sufiice. As a further advantagestorage requirements are substantially reduced since the component partswill normally be stored in a disassembled condition so that parts for arelatively large number of cabinets may be stored in a relatively smallarea.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to theillustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerousmodifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Also, itwill be understood that the above description and accompanying drawingsshould be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtainby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A locker cabinet, comprising a pair of upright side frame members, atop frame member, a bottom frame member and at least one cross bracketconnecting said side frame members, top side and rear walls connected tosaid frame members and at least one shelf connected to said bracket todefine a compartmented structure, a door hinged to one of said sideframe members for closing each compartment, said side frame membersbeing formed with slotted openings, said top and bottom frame membersand said brackets being formed with end tabs adapted to be inserted inselected side frame openings and bent back against said side frames inlocking relation, one of said side frame members having at least a pairof vertical wall portions right angularly disposed to one another todefine two upright walls of a closed vertical passage, the other of saidside frame members having a pair of right angularly disposed cooperatingvertical wall portions defining two other upright walls in a verticalpassage adapted to interlock with the wall portions of said one framemember for an adjacent locker cabinet to unite said cabinets and to fromthereby a vertical passage between the upright frame members foradjacent locker cabinets, and means for mounting a coin-controlled lockto one of said side frame members and within said passage, said lockbeing adapted to control a compartment door.

2. A locker cabinet, comprising a pair of upright side frame members, atop frame member, a bottom frame member and at least one cross bracketconnecting said side frame members, top side and rear walls connected tosaid frame members and a shelf connected to each of said brackets todefine a compartmented structure, a door hinged to one of said sideframe members for closing each compartment, each of said side framemembers being formed with a plurality of slotted openings, said top andbottom frame members and said brackets being formed with end tabsadapted to be inserted in selected side frame openings and bent backagainst said side frames in looking relation, one of said side framemembers having vertical wall portions substantially perpendicular to oneanother, the other of said side frame members having walls defining avertical channel portion adapted to interlock with the wall portions ofsaid one frame member for an adjacent locker cabinet to unite saidcabinets and to form thereby a vertical passage of generally rectangularcross-section and means for mounting a lock to one of said upright framemembers and within said passage, said lock being adapted to control acompartment door.

3. A locker cabinet according to claim 2 wherein said top and bottomframe members and said bracket are formed with shoulder portions forcooperating engagement with said doors when in closed positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,622 10/1888 Ryfenburgh 19451716,863 12/1902 Cammann 194--51 1,050,675 1/1913 Miller 312-35 (Otherreferences on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Vincent 312-107Lachaine 312-108 Mills 194-59 Kaser 312-108 Elvers 312-107 Goulooze16-128 Stochl 16-85 Weiner 16-128 Travis 16-85 0 0 2,808,918 10/1957Shepard 312-35 X 3,133,772 5/1964 Brandes 312-108 FOREIGN PATENTS138,487 2/ 1920 Great Britain. 876,875 8/ 1942 France.

JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

A. FMNKEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LOCKER CABINET, COMPRISING A PAIR OF UPRIGHT SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, ATOP FRAME MEMBER, A BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER AND AT LEAST ONE CROSS BRACKETCONNECTING SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, TOP SIDE AND REAR WALLS CONNECTED TOSAID FRAME MEMBERS AND AT LEAST ONE SHELF CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKET TODEFINE A COMPARTMENTED STRUCTURE, A DOOR HINGED TO ONE OF SAID SIDEFRAME MEMBERS FOR CLOSING EACH COMPARTMENT, SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERSBEING FORMED WITH SLOTTED OPENINGS, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERSAND SAID BRACKETS BEING FORMED WITH END TABS ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INSELECTED SIDE FRAME OPENINGS AND BENT BACK AGAINST SAID SIDE FRAMES INLOCKING RELATION, ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST A PAIROF VERTICAL WALL PORTIONS RIGHT ANGULARLY DISPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER TODEFINE TWO UPRIGHT WALLS OF A CLOSED VERTICAL PASSAGE, THE OTHER OF